Biodanza – the dance of life – was invented in Chile in the 1960s by Rolando Toro Araneda (1924 -2010). A teacher, poet, artist and psychologist with an endless thirst for knowledge, he believed that our connection with life – feeling truly alive – needed to be strengthened. The demands of modern life somehow separate us from our real selves.
Dr Toro had a long and distinguished career at the University of Chile and travelled widely. He began developing his Biodanza system with psychiatric patients in Santiago and very quickly realised its great therapeutic and transformative power.
There’s no mystique to Biodanza: it makes perfect sense. Music, movement and self-expression generate positive energy – and they’re great fun! In our workshops, we move freely, express our feelings and make connections with others through movements and exercises. This isn’t a dance class as such: there are no steps to be learned and no-one expects any particular level of fitness. This is about you and everyone receives a warm welcome. Like mindfulness, Biodanza is designed to help us ‘live in the moment’ and rid ourselves of the ‘noise’ that surrounds us, preventing us from knowing who we truly are and understanding our potential.
Biodanza encourages us to be joyful, increasing our levels of wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence. Do it regularly and you’ll develop a better relationship, not only with others, but also with yourself.
Put simply, Biodanza is an opportunity to improve your quality of life.